Our Impact Through Digital Storytelling
Our Impact fosters awareness by highlighting causes affecting communities through storytelling, lived experiences, and co-production, using the power of cinematography. We achieve this with our own film crew and state-of-the-art film capture devices. The themes in our films are rooted in evidence and are brought to life through compelling visuals. This approach enables us to reach a broad audience, with our high-quality photography, 4K cinematic cameras, and drone technology helping us deliver stunning projects that capture attention and provide solutions in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
Vacci-Nation – Tackling COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in London.
Vacci-Nation is a compelling community engagement film produced by OUR IMPACT, designed to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and promote informed discussions about immunisation within the community. Recorded before the emergence of the Omicron variant, the film delves into critical questions surrounding vaccine safety and the impact of COVID-19 on global majority (ethnic) groups. The primary goal of “Vacci-Nation” is to foster open dialogue and provide accurate information about vaccines, thereby combating misinformation and building trust within the community.
The film features insights from five distinguished global majority health specialists, each with a robust background in General Practice and some with added public health leadership, including Professor Kevin Fenton CBE, Regional Director for London at the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Statutory Health Advisor to the Mayor of London, and President of the UK Faculty of Public Health, and Dr. Imran Choudhury, Director of Public Health at Sutton Council, whose leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized equitable health interventions and proactive measures, ensuring that the voices and needs of global majority communities are authentically represented and thoughtfully examined. It was important to include these voices as their inclusion added authority and expertise that would foster trust among the communities who were disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and those who were unvaccinated.
The process helped to uncover the diverse experiences of nearly 60 patients across three vaccination centers in London, presenting some of these lived experiences in six languages to ensure accessibility and inclusivity. By showcasing authentic patient voices, the film aims to foster informed discussions and address vaccine hesitancy within the community.
Vacci-Nation emphasizes the pivotal role of community organizations in supporting vaccine uptake. A poignant example is Vanesa McCain from People Arise Now, a global majority community organization, who shares her journey of encouraging her mother to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This narrative underscores the impact of lived experiences in fostering vaccine confidence within communities.
Our collaboration with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), the NHS, and local London councils provided valuable insights into the health system’s coordination during the pandemic, particularly in supporting vaccine uptake among high-risk populations. Our Impact’s contributions were directly fed into NHS initiatives that utilised our content to promote safe practices and enhance well-being, leading to the efforts in the surge in COVID-19 vaccinations.
Understanding the Autism Spectrum – Young Sutton Voices
Young Sutton Voices – Understanding the Autism Spectrum is a short film produced by Our Impact Films, focusing on autism within the London Borough of Sutton. Released in approximately 2021, the film aims to raise awareness and promote understanding of neurodiversity, particularly during World Autism Week.
Our Impact worked very closely with Cognus, a leading Special Educational Needs (SEN) advisory service commissioned by the London Borough of Sutton Council. The project also benefited from the expertise of local neurodiverse filmmaker Aaron Nutbeam, ensuring an authentic representation of the neurodiverse community. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to raising awareness and fostering an understanding of neurodiversity within the Sutton community.
Young Sutton Voices: Understanding the Autism Spectrum showcases participants from four Sutton schools: Cheam Common Juniors, Cheam Field Primary School, Wallington County Grammer School, and Bandon Hill Oakfield Primary School. The cohort ranged from primary school students up to working adults, illustrating how autism manifests across different ages, genders, and racial backgrounds. The film highlights that autism presents uniquely at various life stages: Younger children may exhibit delayed speech and limited social interaction, while adults might develop coping mechanisms yet still face challenges in social communication. Gender disparities are addressed, noting that females often “mask” symptoms, leading to underdiagnosis. Racial and ethnic differences are also explored, emphasizing that global majority children are frequently diagnosed later than their counterparts, delaying crucial interventions. By incorporating these diverse perspectives, the film underscores the necessity of recognizing and addressing these differences to foster a more inclusive community.
The film delves into the diverse communication methods utilized by neurodiverse individuals, highlighting both verbal and non-verbal strategies. For non-verbal individuals, tools like communication cards and fidget toys play a significant role in facilitating expression and interaction. Communication cards, such as those used in the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), enable users to convey thoughts and needs through images, fostering effective exchanges with others. Fidget toys serve a dual purpose: they provide sensory input that can enhance focus and self-regulation, thereby supporting better engagement in communicative activities. By showcasing these tools, the film underscores the importance of tailored communication approaches that respect and accommodate the unique needs of each individual on the autism spectrum.
The film also addresses the impact of stigma on neurodiverse adults, particularly in employment contexts. Many neurodiverse individuals face discrimination and misunderstandings in the workplace, leading to feelings of isolation and reduced job satisfaction. This stigma can result in underemployment, with neurodiverse adults often occupying roles that do not align with their skills or potential. Addressing these challenges is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and supportive community for all neurodiverse individuals.